PU syndicate to take up Prof Jaswal's case after 2 yrs

Panjab University syndicate would take up at its meeting on April 15 the request of Prof PS Jaswal to allow him to join as vice chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi national university of law at Patiala, around two years after he went on leave without pay to join the new assignment after the PU failed to act on the matter.

Interestingly, the syndicate would also consider a similar request from dean university instructions (DUI) Prof RK Kohli to join as V-C of DAV University at Jalandhar on deputation.

Since Prof Jaswal's request would be taken up for the first time by the PU syndicate, the development has forced many to claim that the case is being taken up now to ensure clearance of Prof Kohli's request without hassles.

Prof Jaswal joined as V-C of Rajiv Gandhi national university of law in 2011. Ever since, he has been requesting PU authorities to decide on his request for deputation. However, the varsity authorities kept the issue pending for want of legal opinion on rules framed by PU on deputation in April 2012. The rules are said to be silent on the kind of institutes for which the PU would allow deputation to its faculty members.

Contrary to the PU silence on the Prof Jaswal case, PU V-C Prof Arun Grover had in a recent senate meeting allowed DAV colleges director Satish Sharma, with the permission of the chair, to request the body to allow Prof Kohli to join the institution on deputation at the earliest. This was strongly objected to by those present who questioned as to under what rule had the V-C allowed Sharma to make such a request directly to the senate after bypassing the syndicate.

The issue generated so much heat that Prof Grover had to withdraw the permission and apologise to Prof Kohli. Prof Grover had then promised that he would bring Prof Kohli's request to the next syndicate meeting.

Meanwhile, the syndics are all set to oppose Prof Kohli's case strongly on the ground that the PU itself was not clear on rules for deputation and the legal opinion sought was contrary to rules laid down by the varsity.

“Whosoever seeks deputation should ideally go on leave without pay or take premature retirement. Why go on deputation and take personal benefits from two different institutes,” remarked a syndic while talking to Hindustan Times.

The syndicate members felt that PU authorities seemed to be bowing to the pressure of DAV college management committee by allowing Prof Kohli to go on deputation since it enjoys much support in the senate.